HEAD COACH
Paul Gretkierewicz, second season
2019-20 AT A GLANCE
Overall record: 3-15
Region record: 2-8 (fifth place in 5A San Tan)
Playoffs: None
ALL-REGION PLAYERS DEPARTED
G Josiah Jackson, honorable mention
PLAYERS TO WATCH
F/C Merhauti Xepera, jr., 6-3
Xepera fell one vote shy of first-team all-region status last season in the 5A San Tan. “He is an undersized, strong, athletic big man who can stretch the floor,” Gretkierewicz said. “Merhauti plays much bigger than his size height, and his athleticism gives other big men fits.”
G Anthony-Lamar Wilcox, so., 5-7
“Anthony is a very crafty guard who has range several feet beyond the arc,” Gretkierewicz said. “He can read the floor well for a player his age and has the confidence to play with any guard he will come across.”
G Justin Stovall, sr., 6-0
Stovall joined the Rams after moving from Houston, Texas. “He is a strong ball-handler and can really penetrate the lane and get to the rim,” Gretkierewicz said. “Justin also is able to keep defenses honest by hitting shots from the outside. Our team will lean on him to lead us at the point guard position this season.”
OUTLOOK
The Rams remain in the rebuilding process after going 3-15 in 5A last season. They’ll face even stiffer competition after realignment landed them in the 6A Desert Southwest.
Improvement will be key as Maricopa tries to increase its win total from two in 2018-19 and three in 2019-20.
“As a team we don’t focus on setting goals based on wins; we focus on developing winning habits, and once we are able to succeed in that, the wins will follow,” Gretkierewicz said.
The Rams figure to be better shooting the ball this season, and the roster has more varsity experience than it did a year ago. Size could be a concern as they’ll face bigger, more physical teams in their new region and conference.
COACH SAID
“We are focused on attacking the process, which will get us the results we desire. We are excited to compete in the 6A division this season with the biggest schools in the state and I am confident we will continue to get better as the season progresses.” — Paul Gretkierewicz